NOW vs. SYK: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison

Updated on October 5, 2025

Here’s a clear look at NOW and SYK, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.

Company Profile

Symbol	NOW	SYK
Company Name	ServiceNow, Inc.	Stryker Corporation
Country	United States	United States
GICS Sector	Information Technology	Health Care
GICS Industry	Software	Health Care Equipment & Supplies
Market Capitalization	194.24 billion USD	141.08 billion USD
Exchange	NYSE	NYSE
Listing Date	June 29, 2012	March 17, 1980
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Historical Performance

This chart compares the performance of NOW and SYK by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.

NOW vs. SYK: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past one year.

Historical Performance at a Glance

Symbol	NOW	SYK
5-Day Price Return	-0.67%	-1.20%
13-Week Price Return	-9.83%	-8.21%
26-Week Price Return	10.23%	-0.92%
52-Week Price Return	2.02%	0.80%
Month-to-Date Return	-0.85%	-1.49%
Year-to-Date Return	-13.93%	1.14%
10-Day Avg. Volume	1.53M	1.81M
3-Month Avg. Volume	1.50M	1.25M
3-Month Volatility	30.66%	17.50%
Beta	0.97	0.91

Profitability

Return on Equity (TTM)

NOW

16.62%

Software Industry

Max: 66.28%
Q3: 21.28%
Median: 9.33%
Q1: -8.77%
Min: -48.16%

NOW’s Return on Equity of 16.62% is on par with the norm for the Software industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

SYK

14.08%

Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max: 29.93%
Q3: 16.99%
Median: 9.28%
Q1: 5.10%
Min: -12.52%

SYK’s Return on Equity of 14.08% is on par with the norm for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.

NOW vs. SYK: A comparison of their Return on Equity (TTM) against their respective Software and Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry benchmarks.

Net Profit Margin (TTM)

NOW

13.78%

Software Industry

Max: 51.92%
Q3: 19.23%
Median: 6.98%
Q1: -7.14%
Min: -41.00%

NOW’s Net Profit Margin of 13.78% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Software industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

SYK

12.25%

Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max: 24.41%
Q3: 13.71%
Median: 10.08%
Q1: 5.96%
Min: -5.58%

SYK’s Net Profit Margin of 12.25% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.

NOW vs. SYK: A comparison of their Net Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Software and Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry benchmarks.

Operating Profit Margin (TTM)

NOW

13.28%

Software Industry

Max: 60.40%
Q3: 21.25%
Median: 9.90%
Q1: -4.97%
Min: -43.50%

NOW’s Operating Profit Margin of 13.28% is around the midpoint for the Software industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

SYK

15.18%

Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max: 31.09%
Q3: 18.11%
Median: 15.07%
Q1: 8.48%
Min: -0.28%

SYK’s Operating Profit Margin of 15.18% is around the midpoint for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.

NOW vs. SYK: A comparison of their Operating Profit Margin (TTM) against their respective Software and Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry benchmarks.

Profitability at a Glance

Symbol	NOW	SYK
Return on Equity (TTM)	16.62%	14.08%
Return on Assets (TTM)	8.12%	6.52%
Net Profit Margin (TTM)	13.78%	12.25%
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)	13.28%	15.18%
Gross Profit Margin (TTM)	78.52%	64.62%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

NOW

1.09

Software Industry

Max: 4.29
Q3: 2.37
Median: 1.40
Q1: 1.03
Min: 0.25

NOW’s Current Ratio of 1.09 aligns with the median group of the Software industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

SYK

1.78

Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max: 5.19
Q3: 3.00
Median: 2.13
Q1: 1.44
Min: 0.86

SYK’s Current Ratio of 1.78 aligns with the median group of the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.

NOW vs. SYK: A comparison of their Current Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Software and Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry benchmarks.

Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)

NOW

0.14

Software Industry

Max: 2.16
Q3: 0.86
Median: 0.31
Q1: 0.00
Min: 0.00

NOW’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.14 is typical for the Software industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

SYK

0.70

Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max: 1.61
Q3: 0.76
Median: 0.45
Q1: 0.14
Min: 0.00

SYK’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.70 is typical for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.

NOW vs. SYK: A comparison of their Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Software and Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry benchmarks.

Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)

NOW

32.13

Software Industry

Max: 89.65
Q3: 32.64
Median: 1.00
Q1: -9.84
Min: -71.23

NOW’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 32.13 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Software industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

SYK

14.59

Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max: 56.35
Q3: 25.56
Median: 9.60
Q1: 3.78
Min: -26.49

SYK’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 14.59 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.

NOW vs. SYK: A comparison of their Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) against their respective Software and Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry benchmarks.

Financial Strength at a Glance

Symbol	NOW	SYK
Current Ratio (MRQ)	1.09	1.78
Quick Ratio (MRQ)	0.99	0.88
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)	0.14	0.70
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)	32.13	14.59

Growth

Revenue Growth

NOW vs. SYK: A side-by-side comparison of their Revenue Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

EPS Growth

NOW vs. SYK: A side-by-side comparison of their EPS Growth for the MRQ (YoY), TTM (YoY), 3-Year CAGR, and 5-Year CAGR periods.

Dividend

Dividend Yield (TTM)

NOW

0.00%

Software Industry

Max: 0.22%
Q3: 0.11%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

NOW currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.

SYK

0.93%

Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max: 4.15%
Q3: 1.76%
Median: 0.79%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SYK’s Dividend Yield of 0.93% is consistent with its peers in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.

NOW vs. SYK: A comparison of their Dividend Yield (TTM) against their respective Software and Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry benchmarks.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

NOW

0.00%

Software Industry

Max: 3.29%
Q3: 2.41%
Median: 0.00%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

NOW has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.

SYK

42.87%

Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max: 160.00%
Q3: 66.60%
Median: 27.49%
Q1: 0.00%
Min: 0.00%

SYK’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 42.87% is within the typical range for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.

NOW vs. SYK: A comparison of their Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) against their respective Software and Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry benchmarks.

Dividend at a Glance

Symbol	NOW	SYK
Dividend Yield (TTM)	0.00%	0.93%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	0.00%	42.87%

Valuation

Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)

NOW

115.24

Software Industry

Max: 145.74
Q3: 94.88
Median: 45.35
Q1: 26.66
Min: 8.80

A P/E Ratio of 115.24 places NOW in the upper quartile for the Software industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.

SYK

46.25

Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max: 67.29
Q3: 47.01
Median: 30.94
Q1: 23.91
Min: 10.79

SYK’s P/E Ratio of 46.25 is within the middle range for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.

NOW vs. SYK: A comparison of their Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) against their respective Software and Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)

NOW

15.88

Software Industry

Max: 25.67
Q3: 13.68
Median: 8.28
Q1: 4.95
Min: 0.90

NOW’s P/S Ratio of 15.88 is in the upper echelon for the Software industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

SYK

5.67

Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max: 9.49
Q3: 5.41
Median: 2.86
Q1: 2.07
Min: 0.74

SYK’s P/S Ratio of 5.67 is in the upper echelon for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.

NOW vs. SYK: A comparison of their Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) against their respective Software and Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry benchmarks.

Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)

NOW

19.48

Software Industry

Max: 30.67
Q3: 14.92
Median: 8.52
Q1: 3.89
Min: 0.38

NOW’s P/B Ratio of 19.48 is in the upper tier for the Software industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

SYK

7.13

Health Care Equipment & Supplies Industry

Max: 10.85
Q3: 6.56
Median: 3.53
Q1: 2.36
Min: 0.71

SYK’s P/B Ratio of 7.13 is in the upper tier for the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.

NOW vs. SYK: A comparison of their Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) against their respective Software and Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry benchmarks.

Valuation at a Glance

Symbol	NOW	SYK
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)	115.24	46.25
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)	15.88	5.67
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)	19.48	7.13
Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM)	50.31	33.54